Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Crassostrea spp. oysters cultured in an estuarine region in eastern Amazon

The aim of the present study was to detect DNA of Toxoplasma gondii in Crassostrea spp. oysters cultured in the state of Pará, Brazil. A total of 400 oysters were directly collected from a fixed rack system. Gills, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and intervalvular liquid were separated and grouped into pool samples of 10 animals, resulting in 40 samples each of gills, GIT and intervalvular liquid. DNA extraction was performed using a commercial kit, and T. gondii DNA was detected by nested PCR using the primers Toxo3 and Toxo4, which produced an amplification product of 155 bp of the T. gondii gene B1. Nucleotide sequencing was performed for positive samples, and the obtained sequences were identified by comparison with sequences in GenBank. The DNA of T. gondii was detected in 5.8% (7/120) of the pool samples, of which 7.5% (3/40) was in the GIT, 5% (2/40) in the gills, and 5% (2/40) was in the intervalvular liquid. The obtained sequences presented 100% identity and overlap with T. gondii DNA sequences. This is the report of detection of T. gondii DNA in oysters from genus Crassostrea spp. originating from the state of Pará, eastern Amazon.     

Reproductive Performance of Gilts with Similar Age but with Different Growth Rate at the Onset of Puberty Stimulation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of gilts that had a similar age but different weights at the onset of puberty stimulation by boar exposure at 144 days. Gilts were divided into two groups according to their lifetime growth rate from birth to approximately 144 days of age. Mean growth rates at this moment were 577 and 724 g/day for group 1 (G1; n = 58) and group 2 (G2; n = 58), respectively. After selection, gilts were weighed at approximately 155, 165 and 175 days of age, on the insemination day and at slaughter. Gilts were inseminated, on average, at 193 days of age and were slaughtered 32 days after insemination, when the number of corpora lutea and embryos were recorded. Higher growth rate gilts (G2) reached puberty earlier (155.3 vs 164.1 days; p < 0.01). More gilts of G2 group attained puberty by 190 days of age (p = 0.004) than G1 gilts (95%; 55/58 vs 76%; 44/58). The anoestrous rate, until 60 days after the onset of boar exposure was higher (p < 0.01) in G1 (19.0%; 11/58) than in G2 (3.4%; 2/58) group. However, there were no differences in the pregnancy rate (90.7 vs 94.5), ovulation rate (15.9 vs 16.5), total embryos (12.9 vs 11.7), viable embryos (12.0 vs 11.1) and embryo survival (73.7% vs 68.5%), between G1 gilts and G2 gilts, respectively (p > 0.05). High growth rate gilts attain puberty earlier and have a lower anoestrous rate than low growth rate gilts.     

Carboxy-terminal amino acids of gamma-A and gamma-M heavy chains

The carboxy-terminal amino acids of alpha-and micro-chains from human immunoglobulins and alpha-chains from mouse immunoglobulins have been determined by carboxypeptidase digestion and hydrazinolysis. The data suggest the following carboxy-terminal sequences: human micro: Ala-Gly-Thr-Cys-TyrCOOH; human alpha: Thr-Cys-TyrCOOH; murine alpha: (Ileu, Cys)-TyrCOOH.     

Marihuana and memory: acquisition or retrieval?

Two experiments were conducted to determine the means by which marihuana affects human memory. The results of these studies indicated that marihuana did not affect retrieval of information in memory when the method of free recall was used, but did affect recognition processes such that subjects were less able to discriminate between items that had been presented previously and items that had not appeared a short time before. With respect to initial learning, marihuana was shown to affect acquisition processes involved in the storage of information.     

Primary immunodeficiencies: a field in its infancy

A paradigm shift is occurring in the field of primary immunodeficiencies, with revision of the definition of these conditions and a considerable expansion of their limits. Inborn errors of immunity were initially thought to be confined to a few rare, familial, monogenic, recessive traits impairing the development or function of one or several leukocyte subsets and resulting in multiple, recurrent, opportunistic, and fatal infections in infancy. A growing number of exceptions to each of these conventional qualifications have gradually accumulated. It now appears that most individuals suffer from at least one of a multitude of primary immunodeficiencies, the dissection of which is helping to improve human medicine while describing immunity in natura.     

A Study on Thought of Tea of Hanjae Yi-mok＇s Da-bu

The Da-bu of Hanjae Lee mok （1471-1498） is known as an original masterpiece,which is predominantly documented in Korean tea books.He had always spared no effort to put Confucianists＇ theories and thoughts into practice during his 28-year career.Da-bu tea magnificently reflected his concepts of Confucianism in conjunction with tea-drinking activities.The main contents of Da-bu have included written authors,tea species and production,landscape of tea cultivation,tea plants and leaves,ways of tea-drinking and three-grade tea,tea song of seven cups,5 merits and 6 moralities of tea,benefits of tea-drinking,tea comprehension,etc.According to the views of contents,tea of Hanjae Leemok is the only partner with which we can share life and it can also be beneficial to healthy diets.Not only does it have become part of our daily life,but also be a medicine for our physical and mental disease.He composed the tea song of seven cups,which sufficiently expressed a real practice of the pursued ideal state of Confucianism and Taoism.He also promoted a drinking tea for health enrichment of Confucianists.According to the analytical results of Da-bu,Hanjae＇s tea has recognizably become the personally real practice of Confucianism and state.He had reached the enlightenment for the state of birth and death.After consuming tea,his body and mind immediately changed to the state of joys and wonderland,and also he illustrated that this feeling is not a one-off state,it always comes out whenever drinking.Therefore,based on Hanjae Lee mok,tea drinking is not only the regiment for healthy benefits,but also it is a training method,＂ Dado in My Heart＂,for individuals to train their mind,body,and morality.     

Plant species richness and ecosystem multifunctionality in global drylands

Experiments suggest that biodiversity enhances the ability of ecosystems to maintain multiple functions, such as carbon storage, productivity, and the buildup of nutrient pools (multifunctionality). However, the relationship between biodiversity and multifunctionality has never been assessed globally in natural ecosystems. We report here on a global empirical study relating plant species richness and abiotic factors to multifunctionality in drylands, which collectively cover 41% of Earth's land surface and support over 38% of the human population. Multifunctionality was positively and significantly related to species richness. The best-fitting models accounted for over 55% of the variation in multifunctionality and always included species richness as a predictor variable. Our results suggest that the preservation of plant biodiversity is crucial to buffer negative effects of climate change and desertification in drylands.     

Activity and metabolism of cyano-oxime derivatives in various strains of Botrytis cinerea

The fungitoxicity of cymoxanil, 4 cyano-oxime analogs (in which the acetylurea group was replaced with various groups: amide, ester, propargyl, and cyanomethyl-amide), and 2 cymoxanil-metabolites was studied against various strains of Botrytis cinerea. The fungicidal effect was measured on germ-tube elongation and mycelial growth. Cymoxanil and the analogs bearing the amide and ester groups showed the best anti-botrytis activity. The strains studied can be classified into 3 groups according to the germ-tube sensitivity to cyano-oximes. These groups fitted well with the 3 phenotypes of sensitivity to cymoxanil previously characterized in our laboratory: CyaS₁ (highly sensitive phenotype); CyaS₂ (moderately sensitive phenotype); and CyaR (tolerant phenotype). The bio-transformations of all the cyano-oximes were monitored in the culture-medium of the different strains using HPLC- and IP-HPTLC-methods. HPLC-studies showed that cymoxanil and the analogs bearing the groups amide and ester were quickly metabolized in the culture-medium of the CyaS₁ strain. Moreover, these studies allowed us to correlate disappearance of these cyano-oximes, to their fungicidal activity towards the CyaS₁ strain. This suggests that cyano-oximes and particularly cymoxanil are probably activated in a fungitoxic compound. IP-HPTLC-studies strengthened the precedent results and allowed us to correlate disappearance of cyano-oximes studied with appearance of two acids metabolites of hydrolysis. These metabolites could be the actual active-principles.     

Status of Sensitivity of Northern German Botrytis Populations to the New Sdhi Fungicide Fluopyram Prior to its Release as a Commercial Fungicide

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - In a survey of Botrytis populations in Northern Germany in 2012-2014, an average of 67.7% and 73.8% of isolates from strawberry and raspberry fields...